Handling apparatus for airships



Sept. 11, 1934. c. M. BOLSTER HANDLING APPARATUS FOR AIRSHIPS 14 Sheets-Sheet l Filed' Aug. 3, 1953 BY I WM ATTQR EY Sept. 11, 1934. c, M. BOLSTER HANDLING APPARATUS FOR AIRSHIPS Filed Aug. 5, 1933 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I I m mk CA L VIN I M- BOL STEI? INVENTOR gmil TTO R N Y x Sept. 11, 1934. c. m. BOLSTER HANDLING APPARATUS FOR AIRSHIPS Filed Aug. 3, 1933 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 cALv/A/M avian-R ATTOR EY Sept. 11, 1934. c. M. BOLSTER HANDLING APPARATUS FOR AIRSHIPS Filed Aug. 3, 1933 14 SheetsShee1-, 4

Sept. 11, 1934. c. M. BOLSTER HANDLING APPARATUS FOR AIRSHIPS Filed Aug. 5, 1935 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 CAL V/A/ M. BOLSTE/i INVENTOR AATTORNZY- Sept. 11, 1934. c. M. BOLSTER HANDLING APPARATUS FOR AIRSHIPS Filed Aug. 5, 1953 14 Sheets-Sheet 6 w! M. BOLSTER INVENTOR [A ATTOW Se t. 11, 1934. c M. BOLSTER 1,972,863

HANDLING APPARATUS FOR AIRSHIPS Filed Aug. 5, 1953 14 Sheets-Sheet 7 J 6 6 FAPFRoxrrRAvzL or JACK TKOLLEY Maw ATTO NEY Sept. '11, 1934. c. M. BOLSTER HANDLING APPARATUS FOR AIRSHIPS Filed Aug. 5, 1955 14 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR CAL w/v M. 324670? wh mu? EEG Nu ATTOR Y Sept. 11, 1934. c. M. BOLSTER HANDLING APPARATUS FOR AIRSHIPS Filed Aug. 5, 1935 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 CAL |//l M. BOLSTE/f lNVENTOR .1 m w u w 7 m OJ) w Q a 1 L .3 r-\ e QM M w 4. A w w I 1 R L...| I "m" u I 1 W New im 1 Q m m 3, mm a m m M H d e C G H L D m H Sept. 11, 1934.

INVENTOR ATTORW Sept. 11, 1934. c BOLSTER 1,972,863

HANDLING APPARATUS FOR AIRSHIPS Filed Aug. 3, 1953 14 Sheets-Sheet ll -T'\. v T r \0 Q o l.

CALW/V M. BOLSTE/i INVENTOR ATTORZEY Sept. '11, 1934. c. M. BOLSTER HANDLING APPARATUS FOR AIRSHIPS Filed Aug. 3, 19:53 14 Shet Sheet 12 Sept. 11, 1934. c M, BOLSTERV 1,972,863

HANDLING APPARATUS FOR AIRSHIP Filed Aug. 5, 1933 14 Sheets-Sheet 15 CAL Vl/V M. BOLSTEA INVENTOR Sept. 11, 1934. c, M, BOLSTER HANDLING APPARATUS FOR AIRSHIPS Filed Aug. 3, 1953 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 CALVIN 44. 501.575? INVENTOR ATTOR EY Patented Sept. 11,

1,972,863 HANDLING AP'PARATUS FOR AIRsnIPs.

Calvin lt l l ols ter, United States 7 Application aii iisfe, 1933, Serial No. 683,489

25 Claims2 (cram- 2) (Granted unii e lftheilact of Match 18353, as

aiir a's' April :20, 1923; 370 o." G. .757)

My invention'relates broadly'to handling apparatus for airships and more particularly to an improved method and apparatus for undo'cking, mooring-and berthing air-ships. g H g 5 An object of my intention is to providean improved means f or undocking; mooring; handling, and ground maneuveringof an airship upon a landingar'ea, and particularly for the'larg'er types of rigidd'irigibles. V

A fur ther'objectof my invention is to provide a'mo'o'r'ing mechanism for securing the stern of an airship'vfhile inoored by the bow to. a portable mast, and particularly while the mast is'locate'd at the centeroi a hauling-up circle' or circular track system, or during ground transportation into' and out of the hangar;

A still further feature of my invention is to provide means wherebya 'stern handling mechanism can be transferred to or from a circular 20 track system from or to hangar tracka'ge as a complete unit without the releasingofseouring connections, cable's and. bridles attached to" the airship.

Another feature of my invention is to'p'ro'v'id'e a Stern ha'ndling mechanism for" air'Ships which may be propelled around, or allowed to swin'g wit h the airship intothe prevailing wind"directioh,' and. one which may'be'readily transported into the hangar without detachingthe same from the so airship. H Y 1 Another accomplishment of my' invention is to incorporate in my improved sternhandlin'gmecm anism means forallowing a restricted amount of flexibility in the bridle connections between the stern handling bearrfand the airship by providing a floating coupling having universal'jjointconnections with 'the'airship structurejsdthat the stern may be raised'or lowered to "causeth'efjury wheel attached to'airship to clear theg'ro'und and/or to permit'the removal of the jury wheel if desired. v 4

With the above and other objectsin view, my invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of'parts' as will be more J fully hereinafter set forth as shown by the accompanying drawings and finally pointed'out in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming'a part of this'specifi cation, in -which like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several'viewsl'an'd in which: V I

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic'pIan view'of womentio'haltype of airshipmoored by thef'bow to a -port"ab1'e"mast; and by th'e'stern to my improved stern handlingjmechanisrn in f di r'lg .rny spacer couplingsbetw en the mast andjbeani.

Fig. zjisa; d agrammatic side elevation "of the parts shownf in Fig. i1].

Fig. 3' is an I tion'of the; sternflportion of an'a'i'rshi'p; showing the detail arrangemento'f thehandling beam and bridle connection attachedjt'o the. airship;

7 Fig is a detaii transverse ,veftietl section lookingjaft and taken orij'the lin to more clearly show the location connections; g H I F Fig 5 is a" fragmentary plan view of theQp'fiits shown in Fig. 4, and showing diagrarn'matically of the bridle the arrangement of the .vaiioiis" details of'the 7 ing jack rbueyi to whing ng strii tiir e tof the lower vertical fin of the "ai h ip is attached,

Fi 9Qisla: detailsideviewi'oi apor'tionqf the 1 handling beam; and associated operating mechaas shown inFig. 6.

Fig-it Fig. 11 is a detail endview oi the beam showing the" relative location of thefioating jack support a d. iu y'w e .1 Fi g..12 isan enlarged detail. plan view of the floating jack support mechanismfito which is. universa11y:attached the connection. tothe vertical fin of the: airship.., 5 Y Fig. 1-3 is an enlarged detailIverticalsection of the jacking mechanism" takeir-- on theiiiine 13-13 of Fig." '12 a'nd showingi tlie support attache'd'to the airship'firi. 1. Fig. 14 1is a yertical transversesectiori taken ori the line 14-14 of Fig"; '13, showing the dtail arrangement or" the 'centeringfiocli ofthefldaltingsuppo'rt'ofthe air'ship'fi'ri'. i

Fig. "15 is a ertical 'tran'si efse' 'section taken oh I I 'ing"thebearirig rollers andshaftdet'ailsf" I f Fig: 16 is an"erilargedside' eleifatiorifwith" r'fts broken away and parts showman yeracarseeefi, showing the detail cohstructionof oii bf'th-'tirenlarged fragmentary. side el ci a- I a circular track F Fig; 10 is a detail side vie'w I the spacers G into position upon the hangar trackage C. During transportation of Fig. is a plan view of one of the wheel mountings for supporting the intermediate por-- tions of the spacer mechanisms.

Referring more particularly to'the drawings, A designates a conventional type of rigid airship which is moored at the bow to a portable mooring mast B riding on thehangar trackage C that crosses the hauling up circle or" circular track system D. A stern handling mechanism E is provided forsecuring the stern of 'the'airship by a series or bridle cables F. A plurality of coupling members G placed betweenthe mast B and the main beams of the handling mechanism E, form a rigid connection during transportation of the airship between the circular traclr system D and into the hangar.

The portable mooring mast B which may be one of the conventional types is provided with wheel equippedoarriage trucks and is transported along the hangar track system C either under its own power or by means of locomotives, as desired. j

The spacer mechanism G, shown more in detail in Fig. 18, is composed of a series of rigid tubular members 31, placed end to end and jointed together by sleeve fittings32 and bolts Axles 3a are attached to the fittings 32, 37 and 38 by bolts 36 passing through the tie plates 48. U-shaped bolts139 span the fittings 32, 37 and 38 to secure them to the tie plates 48. The fittings 38 located at one end are provided with bumpers l0 whichsupport the coupling members 41 and flanges 43 of a small locomotive 44;. 'The locomotive is connected by coupling pins 42. The locomotive as during transportation oi the airship along the hangar trackage C is coupled to the frame of the mooring mast B by couplings as at 45, -(see Fig.2), and thus the locomotive i4 is only drivenunder its own power while placing rails of the the airship and associated handling mechanism involving my invention, the spacers G are drawn along the hangar trackage by the propelling 'force of the mast B. The fittings 37 are pro- Vided with turnbuckle members 46 having opposed threaded ends which engage threaded sleeves 47 secured to' the fittings 37 and to an angle plate 49 supported upon the main frame of thestern handling beam E.

The jury wheel 1-1 for supporting the stern of the airship at times when itis not found necessary to attach the stern handling mechanism and its bridle connections, is attached at the base of .the lower fin A, and is provided with a pneumatic tire 50 for absorbing the shock of contact with the landing field. The jury wheel is only put into service in very favorable and mild weather conditions, or when it is desired to moor the airship to the portable mast along the hangartracks C or during the preparation for securing the stern handling beam.

The wheel H issecured to the frame structure 51, connected to the fin A, is provided with a race way 52 so that the wheel may swing 360 degrees in a horizontal plane.

The jury wheel H and frame structure 51 are detached before taking ofi, and provisions are made for jacking up the stern handling mecha nism which will be' described later.

The stern handling mechanism designated in general by the character E consists of the main beam structure upon which are mounted the various mechanisms such as the hangar trackage trucks 0, the circular track trucks D, the hauling down winches F, the bridle cables F, and the floating jack support I upon which the lower fin A of the airshipis attached. The airship while attached to the portable mast and the stern handling beam may swing freely back and forth at the stern around the circular tracks into prevailing wind directions or may be hauled around the tracks and brought into position to register with the hangar trackage when the circular track truck D are raised to cause the hangar track trucks C to'contact'with the hangar trackage C for transportation into and out of the hangar against cross hangar wind loads.

The airship when entering or leaving the hangar is moored by the bow to the portable mooring mast B and at the stern by thestern handling beam E and bridles F, and, thus, is relieved of the strain. caused by ground transportation through the elongated coupling connections G provided between the mast B and the handling beam E.-

A fitting 55 secured at the lower end of the fin is provided with a universal connection so as to permit limited rocking movement to the airship and includes the upper members 550. and 55b pivotally connected by a pin 550. Member 55!) terminates in downwardly extending flanges .56

having apertures for receiving .a pin 58 which registers-with an aperture located at the upper end of spindle 5 7 of the floating jack 'lllflChZr nism I. The spindle 5'7 is mounted in a casting '59 which is provided with flanged wheels 60 Jnounted to travel in a transverse direction to the axisof the airship along tracks 61 secured ;to floating frame members 62.

threaded nut 6'7 secured into the lower end of 1 the spindle 57.

The locking of the floating jack I when centering the airship upon the beam E isaccomplished by means of the locking pins 68 -(see Fig.

14), connected by toggle links 69 and a cross head 70. The pins 68 are adapted to protrude through registering apertures 71 located in the sides of the floating frame 62. The cross head is secured to the shaft '72 provided with a lever 73 located on top of the casting 59. An arm '74 j;

secured to the shaft '72 .(see Fig. 12) is provided with a rod 75 which exerts a constant pull against astop 76' by means of a tension spring '77 1o- I cated around the rod 75. The'casting 59 may be moved along the tracks 61 as the airship is being hauled down by the bridle connections and winches and the support 57 may be manually moved along until it is lined up under the fin.

The frame 62 upon which the casting 59 is permitted limited travel in a transverse direction' to the airshipaxis is-provided with beams '80 w-hich are movably mounted upon guide rollers 81 bracketed upon the main handling beam E and is made adjustable-in a fore and aft' directi tion parallel to the airship axis by racks 82 located upon the beams The'racks 82 are engaged by pinions- 83 secured to the shaft 84. The shaft 84 also acts as a bearing for certain of the rollers 81 whichare loosely mounted thereon. Movement of the frame 62 is transmitted through the racks 82, pinions 83*and shaft 84by a manually rotated hand wheel 85' and gears 86 which are mounted in bearings upon the main beam E.

By rotating thecrank 63 the stern of the airship may be moved vertically, while transverse movement isaccomplished by travel of the casting 59 along the frame-62, andmovement parallel to the axis of theairship-i's accomplished by rotation of the hand wheel 85.

The'circular track trucks D are preferably located along the main beam-E outwardly of the trucks 0' for engagement with the rails of the hangar 'trackage C, thus, more uniformly distributing the weight of the beam and providing aswide a footing as'possible transversely of the airship so as to reduce the amount of rocking or side rolling of the airship when being transmitted to the circular tracks. a v

The circular track trucks D are each provided with wheels-90 which travel along the rails of the circular track system D. These wheels 90 are secured to axles 91 having journal boxes 92 in'the side frames 93 which extend between each pair of wheels90. Bearings 94 are also provided in the side frames 93 which are centrally located between each pair of wheels 90 (see Fig. 17) to receive a cross shaft 95 extending beyond the lines of the frames 93 to provide trunnions 96- for a series of diverging wheel actuating links'97. Each of the links 97 aremounted at their upper ends to trunnions 98 extending outwardly from a plurality of cross frames 99. The trunnions 98 are of sufficient length to support a series of bearing brackets 100 designed to straddle each of'the upper ends of the links 97 and are provided with bearing surfaces covered by caps 101. The'brackets 100 are designed to receive a plurality of cross shafts 1'02 extending beyond the sides of the trucks D and'are equipped at their extreme ends with rollers 103 which are located between hearing rails 104 carried by the main beam E.

The rollers 103 by contact with the bearing rails 104 provide supports upon which the wheels 90 are raised clear of the rails of thecircular track system D when the links 97 are spread apart. When the links 97 are contracted the wheels 90 will engage the rails of the circular track system D and jack up themain handling beam E sufficiently to cause the wheels 87 of the hangar trackage trucks C connected to the main beam E to be lifted clear of the hangar trackage C and thus the beam Ewill be free to travel upon the circular track system rails D.

'65 Power for actuating the trucks 1) is preferably transmitted from a source of motive'power housed under the hood 105 conveniently located-for access thereto upon frame members 106 extending from the main beam E through the drive shaft '107, bevel gears 108, speed reduction or power increasing gears 109 and shaft 110 (see Fig. 8). The power is then transmitted through additional speed re- 'opposedthreaded shafts 112, which are connected 75 to the source of power from the shaft 110 through frames 93'; Brake beams: 128' extend through openings 129 in theside frames-93 and-.arei con- "fairlead'cables 141; 142 and 143, which are-"secared to the sheave' blocks 138, 139 aridzl 40and universal joints 113. The shafts ll2-are provided withtrunnionedand threaded traveler sleeves -114 'mounted in bearings provided in the crossframes 99. By reference to Figs. S and 8, it will be'seen raisi'ng. the mai-n beam: E and therebythe stern end ofthe airship whenattached -to the' same- '85 The braking mechanism for thecircular: track truoksD: consists ofbrake shoes. 126 which contact with the wheels-'90 mounted on trunnions I 127 extending. outwardly-from the sides of the nectedby adjustable turn-buckle members 130 between the brake shoes 126 and the beams' l28. Links 131 (see Fig. 17): are pivotally. connected to the beams 128 in the center. ofthe'rtruck D. to @4 operate members 132 which. are provided with fulcrum bearing pinsf133 mounted to oneoithe side' frames? 93- of each 'truck upon frame. brackets 171 which extend-through ap'ertures 'inzthe'mem- 105 bers 132. Forked bearings173are .located'at the outer ends of the bearing sleeves'88 to receivethe trunnions of-the bearing'collars 172: Thus; rotation of thehand wheels 79 will create a'very powerful braking force. upon theiwheels 90; When it is desired to manuallyjackthe-ztrucks D a'cranking mechanism 11-5may be put into action for each truck independently bythrowin'g in mesh-the loosely splined or keyed gears 118 on the power shaft 107 with the gears 119 secured to the shafts 117 and operating-the shaft 117 by cranks- 116.. 1 1r The platform (seeFig. 8-)v is'of sufficient size-t0 provide'space for Jballasting of the main beam-E when necessary to weight themechanism 120 down in very: stormy weather conditions or the platform may be conveniently utilized for members of the handling. crewon look-out duty.

' The hangar track trucksC are mounted upon the structure of the main" handling beam Ebyqa 1 25 centering fitting.121'(see Fig. 9).,zhaving a-bearing pin.122' for attaching the'truck'bolste'rs 123 to which the wheel carriages 124 for supporting the journalboxes of thetra'ckwheels 87 -(see Figs. 6 and 9) are attached.

Hauling down winches F are located along the beam E' for bringing down'thestern of the airship Aso that'the samemay be attached to the spindle 57 of the floating jack mechanism I andthus, anchor the stern .of the airship to the beam- E. 51%35 This is accomplished through awseries of block and tackle mechanisms, sheaves; cables and bridle cables, secured at. selected positions :along the airship frames such as notedfor example-as stations No. 0, station No. 17.5 and station No. 35. 1 40 V The bridlesisecured to'the above noted stations aredesigna'ted' as 135', 136 and 1137 respectively,

and are looped through'sheave blocks 138,-139 and 140'to equalize the tension exeite'd'onthe are-attached at theirlowenends tosimilar sheave blocks 174, 175 and. 176,- through'which'lthermain hauling in winch cables. 144 are"passedin z'ig zag J arrangement? throughzzthe I.-sheaves -:of ltheranchor transportation of airships, in combination, a portable mast for mooring an airship by the bow, a stern handling beam for receiving stem attachments detachably mounted spacing members attached between said mast and said beam comprising a series of rigid units placed end to end and joined at intervals by sleeve fittings and being supported by wheels attached to axles secured to the sleeve fittings.

16. In a handling mechanism for ground transportation of airships, in combination, a portable bow mooring, a stern support, a coupling member detachably secured between said how mooring and stern support, said coupling member comprising a series of rigid units placed end to end and joined at intervals throughout their length by sleeve fittings provided with surface engaging support.

17. In a handling mechanism for ground transportation of airships, in combination, a portable bow mooring, a stern support, a series of rigid units placedend to end, fittings connecting said units, axles secured to saidfittings, wheels'mounted on said axles, ithreaded sleeve connections atone end of said units and to said stern support, turnbuckle'barrels having opposedly threaded ends for engagement with (said threaded sleeves, coupling ,pin connections at the bow end of said units, a self propelled unit be- 'tween. said coupling pinconnections and said portable mooring for transporting said units into position. 7

18. In a stern handling mechanism. for ground transportation of airships, in combination, a main beam, wheeled trucks attached at right angles to. said beam for movement parallel to the axis of the airship, wheeled trucks attached to said beam at right angles to said first wheeled trucks for movement transversely to the axis of the airship, means for jacking up and lowering said beam for effecting movements at approximately right angles. a r

.19. In a stern handling mechanism for ground transportation-of airships, in combination, a main beam, a floatingfsupport adjustably attached to said beam for universally connecting the stern of the airship, means for locking said floating l support centrally on said beams, and means for adjusting saidsupport in a horizontal plane and transversely of thebeam.

20. In a stern handling mechanism maneuvers of airships having a jury wheel attached to the stern thereof for taxiing into berthing-position while moored to aportable mooring mast, incombination, a main beam, a floating support attached to said beam for universally connecting the stern of the airship, means for locking. said floating support centrally on said beam, means for adjusting said support in a horizontal plane and transversely of the beam, and means for jacking said floating support and thereby lifting load carried by the jury wheel attachedto the airship.

21. Ina stern handling mechanism for airships having a jury wheel attached to the stern for taxiingvinto berthing position while moored to a portable mast, in combination, a main beam adapted totravel along a circular trackage' of a hauling up circle, a pedestal located centrally of said beam, a frame on-said beam slidably mounted for fore and aft movement parallel to the airship axis, means for manually moving said frame,

for ground travel along said frame, a universal connection between said pedestal and the airship, a stanchion for said pedestal having guide ways therein and supported by said carriage, a threaded standard engaging a threaded block secured within saidpedestal, a series of gears, a shaft and a crank for raising said pedestal andthereby raising the stern of the airship attached thereto for reliev-- ing theload from the jury wheel, and a lock for securing the said carriage in centered position on said frame. g

22. In a floating connection between the stern of an airship and a stern carriage for permitting limited vertical and horizontal movement therebetween, in combination, a frame on the carriage, means for moving said frametrans versely of the beam, guide rails secured to said frame, a wheel supported carriage adapted to of an airship and a stern handling carriage for permitting-limited play therebetween, in combi nation, a frame slidably connected to the hendling carriage, means for moving the frame trans-- versely of the carriage, guide rails secured to said frame, a wheel supported car adapted to 73',

travel on said, guide rails, a pedestal sup-ported by said car, a universal connection between said pedestal and, the airship, means for vertically moving said pedestal, and means for locking said car in position upon said frame.

2%. In a stern handling mechanism for airships, in combination, trackage having rightangle intersections, a main beam, track engaging units secured to said beam, means for jacking up certain of said track engaging units for 1 allowing said beam to travel at right angles upon said trackage, a carriage adapted to travel along said beam, universal connections on said carriage for attachment to the airship, winches supported by said beam, cables for saidwinches, sheaves for guiding said cables, bridle connections for attaching said cables to the airship, and means for attaching said bridle connections to said cables."

25. In a stern handling mechanism for airships, in combination, circular trackage, cross intersecting said circular trackage parallel to a radius through a mean position thereof, a main; beam adapted to travelpupon trackage either of said trackages, a plurality of wheeled trucks secured to said main beam adapted to travel along said cross trackage, a plurality of jacking up trucks adjustably mounted to said beam and adapted to travel along said circular trackage, means for operating said jacking up trucks, a carriage adapted totravel along said beam, a floating pivot connection supported by said carriage. forattaching the airship, haulingin winches supported by said beam, cables connecting said winches to the airship structure, and block and sheave connections between said winches and the airship for said cables.

CALVIN BOLSTER. 

